"The mad are slowly becoming common I think. What should not be here is here so best to depart from here and maybe find others who can handle what shouldn't be here," Kastix whispers before speaking like normal, "How much farther must we travel?"

Disappointed, Rhayna grabs her staff and follows the party.

Dawnbringer responds in Sekkar's mind: How do you know that creature anyway? Then after a pause, she adds: Remember when you went a bit crazy from that demon lady in the fungus town? I told you to touch my blade, and you got better. Maybe I could do the same. But I'm not sure. He looks pretty far gone, don't you think?

(If Sekkar wants to interject with an action, please feel free... I can rewind if needed. But I'll post ahead regardless.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The duergar escort approaches the double doors, speak the same password in Dwarvish, and there is more sound of invisible shuffling feet and clanking weapons. The heavy stone doors swing open to reveal a forty-foot-high, rough-hewn chamber. Within are at least two dozen more duergar - maybe more - as well as a dozen 'steeders', the spider-like mounts that were commonly seen in Gracklstugh, and which seem to be utilised here as pack animals. Stacked neatly along the walls and throughout the chamber are countless boxes of goods for sale or trade. The sound of many voices speaking loudly in Dwarvish is suddenly silenced as the assembled duergar all turn and stare wordlessly at the group being ushered in. They continue to watch as the escort turns left to lead the group toward a stone building that stands in the north-east corner of the chamber. Raised voices behind the zurkhwood door also stop as the duergar knock, the door is opened and the group is ushered inside.

The sight within is both bizarre and frightening. Two male duergar can seen inside. One has a thick black beard and is dressed in the typically austere but authoritative-looking clothing of a superior officer. The other has a shaved face (almost unheard of among dwarves, both surface or Underdark) and wears an exceptionally drab makeshift tunic which appears to be made from an old sack. Between them is a xorn, similar in every way to the creature encountered in the Whorlstone tunnels below Gracklstugh, with it's central mouth open, and above which is hanging... a gnome! It is a female gnome, bound with rope which extends up to the ceiling to a series of pulleys, and then back down into the hands of the bearded dwarf. The gnome is clothed in a robe sewn with colourful gems. Mipry gasps when she sees the gnome, and barely contains herself from crying out "Yantha!", instead just whimpering the name softly.

Suspended above the hungry gemstone-eating xorn, Yantha is facing the opposite direction and doesn't appear to see the new arrivals. But her voice is clearly heard calling out: It must have been the drow! They must have charmed me and taken the gem while I wasn't looking. The bearded duergar looks around as the group enter, and grunts loudly at the escorts: What's this then? Did you take more prisoners? Do they have it? Then without waiting for an answer, he turns to the group and demands: Out with it then! I'm busy! What do you want?

Sekkar will certainly try (explaining to the Dawnbringer the truth about days - months? He really did not count - spent in drow's captivity and daring escape). He even will be polite enough to warn those deepgrounders around to turn away or close their eyes for a while (talk about walking an extra mile for a friend!). The hard thing would be to convince quaggoth to touch the blade, of course, or to make him believe Sekkar has no intends to chop his head off. But for that they had others, who could distract poor creature, speaking that language of his. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be completely fair, first thought Sekkar got inside the dwarvish compound was of an awestricken - how did they tame that?! He did not spoke up, though and simply waited for that accident to be over, so they could return to things at hand, namely, escaping Underdark (with some beholder-hunting on the way, it seemed). 

Pax resumed taking the lead for the group on this, and stepped forward to address the Duergar. She seems to start with confidence, but then her speech becomes tangled with pauses and uncertainty. Though she seems to have a knack for talking, it seems she undermines her own attempt a bit.... "Thank you for seeing us. We are surface dwellers, uh, obviously. We are here as a neutral 3rd party to um...help resolve the issue that has brought this peaceful trading town to violence.  So...I see you are questioning someone.. the uhhh...prime suspect in the theft of ..a gem that everyone is trying to get? Her name is Yantha?  Well that's great.  We would like to assist in the interrogation. If you just do it by yourself, then anything that you do or find may result in more violence..so, if you let us help, as independent folk, our neutral decisions can be trusted by everyone." 

Persuasion: 22

"What my traveling companion wish to says to say is we wish to see a resolution to the current situation. I offer of vast array of abilities and unique talents at your disposal in hopes of a quick and sound conclusion and gain a clear understanding of the events that occur to lead us this strife. You may expect us not to be motivated by any external political, racial sources  as our goal is to clear things up so we may move on," Kastix steps in to hopefully get them to ignore or disregard Pax's less than stellar persuasion. 

Persuasion 18

Rhayna studies the xorn, to see if it’s the same creature they encountered in the Whorlstone tunnels.

Kaylyn follows the others into the room, taking in what she sees.  

She again casts Detect Magic to see what magic may be present in the room to aid he in her decision making.

Dawnbringer is eager to help Derendil if possible, if that's what Sekkar wants, but adds: Perhaps we should wait until we speak to these duergar. Besides, I'd rather spend my strength helping the gnomes first. They've been good to us.

Rhayna examines the xorn. It looks... the same. It's hard to tell. But the Whorlstone xorn was more reddish coloured, right? But then... perhaps that was just the lighting from the faerzress. What other clues are there? This is a long way from Gracklstugh, so unlikely it moved this far, but still possible. It looks like Ghuldur has it domesticated. But perhaps he was in Gracklstugh at the time and let it wander to forage for gems. But then... it seems he's been stationed here for quite some time. Conclusion: Probably not the same xorn.

Kaylyn scans the room and sees nothing on or around Ghuldur, Krimgol or Yantha to indicate magic items (and just the usual ones on her companions). However there is a heavy-looking iron box in the corner... rather tall and slender and with a door built into the front... the door has a strange round dial on it, with characters on the perimeter... or are they numbers? Whatever it is, there is a definite magic sensation emanating from something inside that box.

Pax delivers her impromptu speech, after which the two dwarves just stare at her. What in the nine hells is she talkin' 'bout? blusters Ghuldur. I cannae understand a word she says! Then Kastix steps in, and with the benefit of a few extra moments to think is able to elicit a few understanding nods from the duergar. And yet it isn't quite enough to get Ghuldur to change his tone, as he continues yelling: What are ye expectin', a medal? If'n ye can find and bring back Krimgol's gem, then I've no further quarrel. I dinnae care how ye do it. If ye cannae do that, I'll slaughter every last gnome in Mantol-Derith. I'll spare 'em one more hour. GET UP OFF THE GROUND, YE FOOL!

That last outburst is yelled at beardless Krimgol. He has prostrated himself on the bare stone floor in front of the group, sobbing and pleading: Please. I beg ye, good masters. Take pity on a lowly calassabrak. Me honor is as stake. Bring back me gem. It's the only way I can buy back the good graces of me clan!

Ghuldur continues berating Krimgol as upside-down Yantha turns slowly, still rambling excuses (even though no-one is currently interrogating her), each more incredulous than the last... Oh, I remember! An invisible bullywug snatched it from my hand with his tongue. No, no. It was a witch! She turned me into a newt so she could steal the gem. But I got better. Oh, I know! I didn't see who took the gem because a mind flayer ate my brain!

Sekkar could not always tell a mad gnome or human form the sane one, but that case seemed to be pretty clear. "All right, you wanted to help gnomes? Here is the chance. That one is obviously mad, let's see if you can cure her."

He stepped forward and in Dwarvish offered just that. "Can I try to talk sense into your thief? I might know how to help her remember what happen. Then we or your forces go there and pick up the gem."

If allowed he will repeat his suggestion to shield the eyes and try to use Dawnbringer's magic on Yantha.

Kaylyn notes the strange iron box with the dial.  Some sort of combination lock, magical in nature, she supposes.  It is of interest but that is all at this time.

She then looks back and forth between Yantha who hangs from the ceiling and the duergar, Ghuldur, who is interrogating her.  She wonders which may provide the better information.  She then makes her choice.

Kaylyn quietly casts Detect Thoughts on Yantha and focuses her mind on her to learn the surface thoughts of Yantha -- what is most on her mind in that moment.

Pax glares at the Ghuldur, her polite language gone, "Slaughter every last gnome? Over a gem? And you entrusted it this? Ok. We will find the gem and return it to the rightful owner. But can you please remove the gnome from...."  she waves her hand at the rope and Xorn situation "....this and made available for us to speak to.  In the meantime.."  She glances down at Krimgol, "You, Krimgol, when and where did you last have the gem? How did you lose it?" 

Oof. Bad writing. Sorry. A couple of clarifications...

- Yantha is a female gnome mage. Sorry if that wasn't clear. And just to summarise (cos details can get lost over time): Yantha is also the leader of the Stoneheart Enclave in Bligdenstone, and the one Mipry said could give directions to 'Gravenhollow', the mystical stone giant library.

- Krimgol is the duergar with no beard and dressed in rags. He is the one begging for pity (unusual behaviour for a duergar), hoping the gem will be returned so he can buy back his honor and no longer be an outcast 'calassabrak'. 

- Ghuldur is the grumpy-sounding duergar leader holding Yantha's rope and threatening to kill the gnomes for stealing the gem. He is currently yelling at Krimgol, telling him to get off the floor, telling him he is NOT a calassabrak, that he has NOT lost his honor, and that this ridiculous behaviour is embarassing. OK, a bit extra info there. But yeah, Ghuldur acts like a typical duergar.

It's a circus, no doubt.

(modified my post above with a couple corrections)

Ghuldur grumbles back at Pax: I'm in me rights to kill them gnomes as long as the goods they stole remain at large. He probably enjoys exercising dominion over the svirfneblin, and is only held in check by his adherence to the laws of Mantol-Derith... and as long as those laws have been broken, he feels justified in venting his spleen. Also, he seems disinclined to release Yantha from her present position, but is willing to lower her down close enough for Sekkar to do whatever it is he wants to do, calling for the hungry xorn to back away and give them room.

Sekkar:
With the duergar shielding their eyes as suggested, and with Kaylyn quietly casting her spell, Sekkar ignites Dawnbringer and lifts her up slowly to touch Yantha's shoulder. Just at the moment of impact, Sekkar feels a sharp stab of telepathic distress from Dawnbringer, and pulls the sword away. OH! Oh my! What has become of her mind? I can't do it. I can't do anything for her! That poor creature!

Kaylyn:
Kaylyn makes the mind connection, but feels no such stab of mental anguish. What she does feel is no less disturbing though. Yantha's mind is a dark and fearful scramble. It is like a shadowy hand is grasping each strand of thought and twisting it, mutating it, in such a way that Yantha herself cannot help but speak deliberate lies and deceptions, even at her own peril. But amongst all the chaos and falsehoods, Kaylyn can find the root, the original unadulterated thought that Yantha would express if her mind was her own to control: I gave the gem to my apprentice, Flink Thunderbonk. Find Flink!

Pax:
Krimgol is very compliant and willing to answer Pax's questions, eager to help them restore his precious gem to him. I found it months ago. Well one of me quaggoth slaves found it actually. He brought it to me but went missin' soon after. As soon as I 'eld it in me 'ands I just knew it was what I needed to buy back me lost honor. Took me a while, but next chance I got I brought it 'ere to Mantol-Derith, to get appraised by them gnomes. No-one knows gems like that Yantha there. Well she no sooner picked it up than she announces its worthless and offers me no more'n a tiny lump of gold fer it. I knew she was lyin' and demanded it back, but she wouldn't give it. I stormed off and told Ghuldur, and that's when 'e went and took 'er in.

"Gone," with honest regret hissed Sekkar. "May be some true healing can save her, but her mind is a mess. You can as well interrogate a rock." Dawnbringer was deactivated, the lizardman did not try to force fateful weapon to describe the horrors it saw.

(Does Greater Restoration helps here?)

Quote from Wolfy911 >>

(Does Greater Restoration helps here?)

 You can certainly try...

Kaylyn, seeing the horror of the gnomes mind, chooses not to press harder.  Instead she shifts her attention, and the spell, over to Ghuldur to see what is on the surface of his thoughts.

Kaylyn:
Ghuldur seems quite sane. His thoughts are mostly occupied with maintaining strict order and enforcing authority, although he has a clear distaste for svirfneblin, and relishes any excuse he can find to justify violence against them. He does also seem a bit suspicious about the altruism of these surface dwellers, who just want to help without any ulterior motive, and contemplates whether they too are trying to acquire this unusually desirable gem that everyone is obsessing over.